Esken said that on Sunday in the ZDF program “Berlin direct”. “The talks must end just like the actions that are currently being taken against the women and men on the streets.”
Opposition came from her own party. Nils Schmidt, spokesperson for the SPD’s foreign policy, said on the show that “this has nothing to do with responsible foreign policy”. Iran would threaten Israel and regional stability with nuclear bombs. Moreover, there should be fear of an arms race, according to Schmidt.
Iran has been rocked for weeks by mass protests against which the Iranian authorities are using violence. Hundreds of people were arrested and dozens more killed, according to human rights groups.
The protests in Iran were triggered by the death of the young Kurd Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died in Tehran on September 16 after being arrested there three days earlier by vice squad on charges of not wearing her headscarf in accordance with regulations.
Nuclear talks between Germany, Russia, China, France and the UK with Iran have stalled for months. The United States is only indirectly involved in negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. The agreement was intended to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Under then-US President Donald Trump, the US unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and imposed massive new sanctions on Iran. As a result, Tehran has also gradually withdrawn from its obligations under the agreement.
(SDA)